Retrial in Oahu love triangle murder case explores evidence, exes

Prosecutors spent the day focusing on evidence found near the scene and picking apart the defense’s theory of other suspects.
Published: Jan. 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM HST
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - In week two of the Eric Thompson murder retrial, prosecutors spent the day focusing on evidence found near the scene and picking apart the defense’s theory of other suspects.

Prosecutors say Thompson shot Jon Tokuhara multiple times in the face after learning he had been having an affair with his wife, Joyce.

Joyce Thompson first started seeing Tokuhara for acupuncture fertility treatment, which prosecutors say later developed into a romantic relationship.

The man who found a white bucket hat near the scene took the stand Wednesday morning. The hat was worn by a man on surveillance video near Tokuhara’s acupuncture clinic in Waipahu.

Prosecutors say that man is Thompson and the hat contains his DNA. But Vicente Tangonan testified he thought the hat belonged to a friend of his.

The ex-partners of women that Tokuhara dated also took the stand. Both strongly denied any involvement in his death.

John Demarco the ex-husband of a woman who dated Tokuhara said, “Good riddance, he can have her. I knew I’d never be able to trust her again because that was a huge part for me as a person. I was just like good riddance. I called him up and we weren’t yelling or anything. I’m not a fighting type.”

When Daryl Fujita, an ex-boyfriend of a woman who dated Tokuhara, was asked how he feels testifying in this case, he responded, ”Testify again? I’m not happy about it, because I ain’t have nothing to do with it."

This is the second murder trial for Thompson. His first trial resulted in a hung jury.

The trial resumes Thursday.

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